Couples' wedding day blues over troubled Shropshire hotel

The owner of the Park House Hotel in Shifnal was placed into administration this month, leaving an uncertain future for the well-loved county hotel.

Although Cheshire-based group Assured Hotels has stepped in to take over the running of the hotel, and is expected to make a purchase in the next month, couples who have booked weddings are still in limbo while they await the outcome of those talks.

Naomi Leslie and her fiancee James Whitehouse can't wait to get married next April.

But their plans have been placed in doubt by the news that Shifnal's Park House Hotel is in financial trouble.

The 26-year-olds were delighted to find the gem of a venue in Shropshire, but were disappointed when they realised that their dream day could be in jeopardy.

However, they are now hopeful that their wedding do will still go ahead as planned.

The couple, from Wednesfield, have been told about a possible rescue deal and are now waiting to hear the outcome.

Miss Leslie said: "The people we have spoken to all seemed fairly confident that the sale of the hotel will be made, but we put so much effort into planning our wedding do, and there's so much else riding on it that we don't want things to be uncertain.

"A lot of time and money goes into it, so it's a worry."

She added: "I'm not going to wait until the week before to find out whether it's going ahead.

"The hotel is a solid business and they think it will sell.

Readers of the Shropshire Star have created a chorus of concern about the future of the hotel, with the key Christmas season looming.

Shropshire-born Christian Corkin is due to fly from Australia to marry at the venue in January, and added: "I have had heard stories of wedding venues sometimes having financial problems and put in some research to see if there were any problems with the Park House. I was unable to find any at the time.

"Flights are booked, wedding has been paid for and many of our friends have booked and paid to stay in the hotel the night of the wedding. It's very concerning, especially being so far away.

"I am not looking forward to telling my future wife tonight. I hope a new owner is found quickly to put our mind at ease, with the short time frame until the wedding it is very worrying."

Helen Middleton, from John Randall Primary School in Madeley, added: "I have had many happy times at the Park House it would be so sad to see it go.

"Staff here are really looking forward to the event A Queen Tribute Night and would all be very disappointed if we were unable to go. We are hoping that by the end of the month things will be sorted out."

A spokesperson for the administrators said: "Since the company entered administration we have contacted as many people as possible with wedding or party bookings to inform them about the situation. One wedding and several other events have already taken place in the past week and it is very much business as usual.

"Until the hotel is sold, the joint administrators intend to keep the hotel open for business and honour all bookings.

"Anyone with an event booking at the Park House Hotel with worries or concerns should contact the hotel manager."